Lighting Up Annapolis In A Big Way

WBAL's Scott Wykoff reports on efforts to raise money for the big 4th of July fireworks show planned for this year in Annapolis Download This File

With less than two weeks before the holiday, organizers are still seeking donations to help pay for the July 4th fireworks display in Annapolis.

It's estimated that upwards of 30,000 folks come to Annapolis to see the July 4th fireworks. Because you can see the fireworks from so many spots around town (and on the water), organizers believe the crowd on July 4th for the fireworks is larger than the crowd that turns out for the Blue Angels during commissioning week in May.

While the city pays for the fireworks themselves, a portion of the funding for all that goes into hosting the fireworks show in Annapolis comes from donations by businesses and citizens.

Volunteers who are helping to organize the fireworks show say they are hoping to raise $8,000 to $8,000 to help the city with the overall $30,000 that it costs the city for all that goes into hosting such a big fireworks display.

“You know these kind of things don’t just happen, they do cost money,” says July 4th Annapolis Inc. volunteer Tom Chepurko at Citizens Bank who is affectionately known as this year’s Mr. Fireworks in Annapolis. “In today’s pressing budgets with the city and local government that some of these things are becoming a little bit more of a luxury so we are looking for the business (community) and the individuals to make contributions at any size.”

The non-profit July 4th Annapolis Inc. was formed 6 years ago by local members of the business community to raise funds and to coordinate the fireworks display.

The fireworks will be launched starting about 9:15 p.m. On July 4th from a barge in Spa Creek near the Severn River and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The city also is seeking volunteers to help with the Fourth of July Parade.

“We are looking for volunteers if they can help in any way,” says City of Annapolis Special Events Coordinator Felicia Nolan. “Volunteers for the parade would be wonderful. Our parade begins at 6:30 p.m. (at Amos Garrett Boulevard and heads down West Street to City Dock)

and line-up begins at around 5:00 p.m. and we could definitely use some volunteers helping in any way they can would be great.”